South Texas Snapshot: Elevator invention

Contributed photo Auston Marshall, 24, (left) joined his father Chris Marshall to take 30 prototypes of his grandfather Kelly Marshall's device to an elevator trade show late last year. The patent for the SmarTork spirator, which closes elevator doors stalled by wind velocity in elevator shafts, is now being sold around the world. After the trade show, elevator engineering industry magazines profiled the product. Kelly Marshall died in 2004, without seeing the success of his idea.

Michael Zamora/Caller-Times Vicki Marshall (center) holds the story that appeared about her late husband's elevator design alongside her daughter, Debbie Clark, Friday at Marshall's home in Corpus Christi. The family recently received a patent for the design Kelly Marshall submitted 14 years ago.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Michael Zamora/Caller-Times Vicki Marshall (center) and her daughter, Debbie Clark, stand next to a display of articles on her husband, Kelly Marshall, and his now-patented elevator design Friday at Marshall's home in Corpus Christi.

Corpus Christi Caller-Times

Contributed photo Father and son Kelly Marshall (left) and Kelly Dean Marshall worked together in Corpus Christi in the elevator business. The elder Marshall scribbled an idea onto a napkin to solve a problem with wind velocity in elevator shafts stalling door closure. The younger Marshall built the first prototype. Last week, after years of delays including the elder Marshall's death in 2004, the device received patent approval and is selling worldwide.

Contributed photo SmarTork is called a spirator. It's a device that helps close elevator doors when they are stalled by wind velocity in elevator shafts. The design was originally scribbled on a napkin by Kelly Marshall at Andy's Kitchen. After more than 14 years in patent delays, and Marshall's death in 2004, his family now is marketing his device worldwide.